SPARKS

bryan_davey · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:38 am Post subject:

release date 24 OCT .......still showing on amazon, still not received an email to say its on its way !

Crabby · Groupie Joined: 26 Feb 2024 Posts: 155 Location: Belfast

I got an email a few days ago saying they were "encountering a delay in shipping".... There was no new estimated delivery date!
The situation with this book has always been a bit vague and to be honest l'm not really expecting it ever to arrive...

SteveBoyce · Sub-Deity Joined: 17 Jan 2002 Posts: 768

waterloosunset · Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:28 am Post subject:

In the US, it isn't supposed to come out until December 20th. The reoccurring delays give a double meaning to the first line of the book description at Amazon:

"This long-overdue book charts the career of Sparks from 1969 – 1979."
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better drop the requirement that everything be great

Crabby · Groupie Joined: 26 Feb 2024 Posts: 155 Location: Belfast

Ha ha...... The cheap paper doesn't surprise me and l don't think it's a particularly long book either..... Still, it'll be something of a curio if it ever arrives!!

Andy M · Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 12:33 pm Post subject:

Picked up my copy from our local bookshop today and have given it a very quick skim through. I have to agree with Steve - the post-Island section is brief indeed.

I've got another book in the "On Track" series and one in the similar "Decades" series, and they're more or less the same pagination. Perhaps the author just ran out of space? But to afford, say, Big Beat three times the length of No 1 seems somewhat perverse (or, for another comparison, the early years last up to page 47 (of 144), post-Island gets the last 20).

miss sparks · Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2024 6:04 pm Post subject:

Order book via eBay

SteveBoyce · Sub-Deity Joined: 17 Jan 2002 Posts: 768

Plugging his book here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5GVyI5grI4

Andy M · Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2024 11:10 am Post subject:

Have just finished the book, and found it very enjoyable. Lots of new stuff to me (or stuff I knew but had forgotten!). To his credit, Chris Sutton has sought out - and quotes - a number of band members and others whose views hadn't been aired before and that's really welcome and fresh. The comments on each track are possibly the weakest bit (though I acknowledge that, if you're a fan, it's difficult to navigate this without using the same superlatives). Like Steve, I'd argue about some of his views as to best/weakest tracks - but that of course is very subjective. Sutton does focus on the "sound" rather than the lyrical content, and he also has a tendency to emphasize and extol the contribution of the guitarists involved.

Overall, though, well worth the investment.

Kermit! · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2024 10:16 am Post subject:

I ordered my copy on July 3rd & it finally arrived last week, November 7th!
I'd resigned myself to it never being released so it was 'a big surprise' when it dropped through my letter box.
I'm sure it will be an interesting read about Sparks undoubtedly most important period of their career but I'll reserve any judgement on it until l've read it through.
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The fan formally known as kermit

The Future! The Future!

bryan_davey · Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 1:31 pm Post subject:

im up propaganda, really enjoying this !!!

miss sparks · Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2024 3:27 pm Post subject:

Got my book today. Good price on eBay didn't pay the full amount.

Crabby · Groupie Joined: 26 Feb 2024 Posts: 155 Location: Belfast

I finally got mine too.... I didn't have high hopes but it was a bit better than l thought it would be, a few interesting insights but nothing earth shattering.... And personal opinions about songs are, well, personal opinions. I disagreed with most of them..... 😂